Details Released Of Wilton Woman's Stabbing Death

Man Charged With Stabbing Wife During Argument

Investigators said that a woman's death in Wilton last month was triggered by a fight between the woman and her husband.

According to court documents, Benjamin Duling and his wife, Shelly McGrade, were fighting inside their home on April 18 over a trip they were scheduled to take the next day. Police said a knife was pulled, and McGrade was stabbed to death.

"Well, the state police has been investigating from day one the relationship of these individuals, and that is to say the whole relationship was the subject of the investigation," Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Strelzin said. "Certainly the trip was part of their argument, but I think it goes deeper, and that's part of the ongoing investigation."

Investigators said Duling took the couples two children, ages 5 and 2, to a neighbor's house. According to court records, both children had blood on their clothing.

Neighbor Tony Campos said he was having a cookout when his family heard noises across the street.

"It was more like wails of 'Why, why, why,'" Campos said. "Our guest ran over and was trying to help do first aid and stuff like that."

Court records said Duling cried "for his babies" and "pounded his head on the ground in anguish." Investigators said he repeated, "Life should not be so hard" over and over and at one point said, "Please kill me."

During an interview with state police, Duling said that McGrade had pulled a knife on him, police said. The two struggled, she fell and he saw a knife sticking out of her side, according to court documents.

Investigators said the 5-year-old said he heard his parents arguing and fighting, heard McGrade say, "Stop it," and saw both his parents bleeding.

"They had an argument that night, and at some point, a knife was pulled out, and the victim was stabbed with that knife twice," Strelzin said. "Obviously, the circumstances of that stabbing are what led to the homicide charges."

Duling was charged with second-degree murder and was ordered held without bail.

Hillary Clinton's office said "nothing nefarious was at play" when the former secretary of state used her personal email address, rather than one provided by the State Department, during her four years as America's top diplomat.